A six minute strike from the Swans top scorer would put the Swans in the ascendancy, but Norwich would work their way back into the first-half with forward Jovon Makama reacting first, to pounce on a rebound, to level the scores. The second half looked to be playing into a stalemate until Vipotnik would fire his second from range, with 20 minutes to play to earn his side a vital three points.
In a game of few chances the Slovenian internationals double proved to be crucial as the Swans ended their recent slump to get back to winning ways, whilst sending relegation-threatened Norwich to their fifth defeat on the bounce.
Looking to bounce back from a disappointing 1-0 defeat to Queens Park Rangers last time out, the Swans would look to improve on a poor recent home record, which has seen back-to-back defeats, and no win in SA1 in five outings.
Having fallen to 16th in the Championship table, the home side would be pitted against a struggling Norwich side sitting in the relegation zone after Tuesday’s 1-0 loss to Derby County condemned the Canaries to a fourth straight league defeat.
Swansea head coach Alan Sheehan would name a side with four changes from his team’s midweek loss, recalling Josh Key, Ronald, and Vipotnik. Whilst Liam Cullen would be handed a rare start at ten with Malick Yalcouye, sent off in midweek starting the first of a three match ban.
Meanwhile, Canaries boss Liam Manning, despite his team’s poor run, would remain unchanged, keeping faith with the eleven that started the loss at Pride Park.
It would be the home side that would have the best of the opening proceedings and would score after just six minutes.
Vipotnik blasting the ball into the roof of the net from the edge of the penalty area past a helpless Vladan Kovacevic in the Norwich goal, after a surging run and defense-splitting pass from Marko Stamenic had found the Slovenian forward.
The Swans would have the best of the play in the first quarter and would come close to doubling their lead. The influential Stamenic feeding Cullen, before on the overlap Key would break into the box to drill a low effort at goal. Kovacevic would be beaten with a wicked defection, but the former Exeter full back’s luck would be out as the ball would cannon back off the inside of the far post.
Norwich would respond with captain Kenny McLean’s surging run seeing an effort fired wide of the post, whilst Serbian midfielder Mirko Topic would see an effort from range palmed away by Swans goalkeeper Lawrence Vigouroux.
However, as pressure in the Swansea half would start to tell, Norwich would find themselves back on level terms. Liam Gibbs showing excellent skill to turn Vipotnik in the midfield before sending away dangerman Josh Sargent. The USA international striker then outmuscling Ben Cabango to drive a shot at Vigouroux. The Swans number one parrying the low effort, but just to the feet of strike partner Jovon Makama following up to put the ball in the back of the net.
The second-half would start much in the same vein as the first, but whilst the Swans would shade the possession statistics, Norwich would look more threatening in the final third. Substitute Jeffrey Schulpp powering an effort from the left-hand side at goal, forcing Vigouroux into action to tip the strike over the crossbar.
With the game evenly poised, but lacking quality, the feeling would be it would take a moment of magic to open the match up. That moment would come from Vipotnik who would restore Swansea’s advantage, picking the ball up from all of 30 yards before turning and firing an unstoppable effort into the bottom corner past Kovacevic for his second of the game.
Norwich would attempt to force their way back into the contest, but the Swans after a spate of substitutions would hold firm to earn a vital victory that would see them move into midtable in the Championship standings.
Swansea City XI
Lawrence Vigouroux, Josh Tymon, Josh Key , Ben Cabango (captain), Cameron Burgess, Ethan Galbraith, Marko Stamenic (Goncalo Franco 74), Ronald (Kaelen Casey 90), Eom Ji-Sung (Melker Widell 74), Liam Cullen (Adam Idah 78), Zan Vipotnik (Jay Fulton 78).
Norwich City XI
Vladan Kovacevic, Jack Stacey (Jeffrey Schlupp 45), Kenny McLean (captain), Jakov Medic, Harry Darling, Pelle Mattsson, Mirko Topic (Jacob Wright 45), Jovon Makama (Matej Jurasek 82), Liam Gibbs (Emiliano Marcondes 70), Oscar Schwartau, Josh Sargent (Mathias Kvistgaarden 69).
[Lead image: Swansea City]
